In a new series of paintings at Alley Cat Books, urban landscape artist Anthony Holdsworth has captured the spirit of an entire neighborhood. Viewers can practically hear the sound of the 49 Muni bus clattering along Mission Street, smell the sizzling aromas of tamales being prepared by street vendors and intuit the changing face of the neighborhood, as corner bodegas brush elbows with upscale restaurants and tech start-ups.

Holdsworth's rotating exhibition, "Mission District Series," features several works created by the artist in the last year. "Our cities bear witness to the westward expansion of Protestant, industrial culture. My California urban landscapes often reflect this legacy," he says.

Holdsworth has lived and worked in Bernal Heights for close to three decades. The memorial for his late friend and neighbor, respected underground artist Spain Rodriguez, inspired Holdsworth to paint scenes that depicted the vibrant colors, traditions, and populations of the Mission District.

"I began by celebrating the Latin flavor of the neighborhood, which remains strong at 24th and Alabama streets," he says. "The welcoming and tolerant spirit here reminded me of Mexico and Nicaragua."

Holdsworth decided to make the area a subject of a large studio painting. Residents posed for portraits, which he incorporated into a 40-inch by 9-foot panorama that is the centerpiece of the show.

The mood of Holdsworth's series darkened as the effects of the gentrification became more obvious. "Almost directly across from a mural about gentrification in Balmy Alley, I discovered a nine-unit apartment building where over 50 tenants had received eviction notices. Many of the older residents were immigrants who had lived in these rent-controlled apartments for 35 years," Holdsworth says.

Around the time of the Day of the Dead celebrations in late October and early November, news spread that one of the Mission's cultural icons, artist René Yañez, was being evicted. Holdsworth painted a portrait of Yañez in front of his home.

Given that the Mission has always been an area known for its vibrant art, the changing face of the area is something Holdsworth has felt as a palpable loss. "It's terrible that money can trump community. Community is as essential to us as air, water, or sunlight," he says, noting the number of mural artists who are working in San Francisco but primarily commuting from other locations in the Bay Area. "I fear that the critical mass that enabled this neighborhood to be a major cultural generator in the city is dissipating."

At the same time, he is hopeful. "For 40 years, the Mission has provided fertile ground for artists," he says. "This legacy will remain no matter what happens to the Mission."